IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
This one’s ablaze with great guiding.
Short read: Let’s join Samuel Pepys, Special Correspondent for Posterity. Sam’s on the scene. We’re beside him.
Long Read: The Great Fire of London. An iconic event in the city’s history. It may have happened over 350 years ago but thanks to the famous diarist Samuel Pepys, we still have an essentially ‘live’ hour-by-hour report of the Great Fire as it spread through London in September 1666.
This walk follows the progress of the Great Fire from east to west, landmark by landmark, as Pepys experienced it. His home near the Tower of London from where he first saw the Fire in the middle of the night and thought it not worth bothering about.
The Tower of London which he climbed to get a better view of the Fire. A secret little courtyard where a church once stood whose burning spire caused panic among the onlookers. The street where the Lord Mayor ‘cried like a fainting woman’, as Pepys savagely described it.
We will discover what remains of Pudding Lane where the Fire began, examine the famous Monument* commemorating it…
And see the first church to burn down, rebuilt and still standing today.
We pass St Paul’s Cathedral (famously burnt down and rebuilt by the great Sir Christopher Wren)…
And end within sight of the place where the Fire was finally halted after raging for four days, burning down 13,200 houses and 87 parish churches.
And of course we’ll hear the intriguing story, which every British schoolchild knows, of what Samuel Pepys buried in his garden!
*Learning to read this image – decipher it – is, all by itself, worth the price of admission!
Ilana –
Catherine was a wonderful , enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide who led us on a journey back in time, bringing to life the events of 1666 in a n engaging and lively way and uncovering many hidden city gems.
Thank you for such a lovely morning !
Hazel –
Thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating walk. Catherine is a wonderful story teller, knowing her subject inside out, she made it fun and highly informative. Her enthusiasm brings the history to life, would recommend to all ages.
Louise Freeman –
An excellent walk with a great storyteller who brought the medieval city to life around the modern buildings. Recommended.
Mike Thexton –
A great story, well told – Catherine’s knowledge and enthusiasm really brought everything to life. Really interesting, informative and enjoyable, and an intriguing wander around some of the backstreets of the city.
Neil –
Catherine was very knowledgeable and provided some superb information on the fire of London walk – well worth doing.
Lucinda –
I took two of my granddaughters aged 11 and 6 and we all thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Catherine is a great guide – super knowledgeable and friendly. We were thrilled to be able to buy her book too!
Billy –
A brilliant tour in which Catherine brought to life the story of the Fire of London through following the movement of the Fire itself and several notable figures during the event, including Samuel Pepys, whose diary entries were read out to enrich the backdrop of the time period. I was reminded of learning about the Fire during primary school, as well as learning lots of new context about the event through Catherine’s passionate and entertaining narration. I’d highly recommend this tour.
Lucy Thirtle –
Catherine adds so many details to the broad story that many of us will know. Samuel Pepys was the ‘on the ground’ reporter/ journalist of his day and Catherine’s use of his writings brings events alive as they unfold. Catherine’s fascination with the story and the subject are palpable and makes her a most absorbing and insightful guide. Being reminded of its history as one walks through the streets of a city now pulsating with modern life makes this a most enjoyable walk.
Robert Thirtle –
Ironically enough, our meeting with Catherine at the start of this walk coincided with a Fire Evacuation practice from the nearby offices which, in retrospect, seemed rather fitting.
Over the next two hours we were led on a journey through the streets where the Great Fire had raged nearly 360 years ago, travelling from east to west just as the fire itself had done, and imagining the chaos and panic that must have ensued as the flames took hold. Our guide, Catherine, brought the story of the Great Fire thrillingly to life with a range of fascinating facts and insights, excerpts from Samuel Pepys’ famous diary, and with her natural flair for storytelling and her obvious passion for the subject. I found myself looking at the buildings and streets in an entirely different light, as Catherine pointed out details, inscriptions and curiosities along the route that I would never otherwise have seen. Altogether a really wonderful experience and one that I would highly recommend to anyone with any interest in London and its history.
David Cloake –
David C
I went, with my family, to enjoy this insight into the life of our own city and Catherine was a total gem. Her knowledge is without question, but it was brought to life by her enthusiasm and her natural talent of storytelling. Our children received as much from the tour as their parents and it’s to Catherine’s credit that she could keep us all rapt! I learned a great deal and highly recommend this tour, and in particular with Catherine, to anyone with an interest in London or this aspect of its fascinating history!